Linux and now Windows: The newest testing release of open source personal finance software GnuCash now runs on Windows.

GnuCash is on its way towards helping users banish the spendy Microsoft Money or Quicken from their PC, but we're not quite there yet. The full-featured personal financial manager can keep your accounts balanced and your reports updated, but this release, version 2.1.1 is still unstable and untested.

Like Evolution for Windows, GnuCash's interface is not the native Windows GUI, which may put off some folks. GnuCash can import common financial data formats (like QIF, OFX/QFX and CSV.) This version's not final enough for me to give up Quicken but once it is I just might - if just to stop participating in the Quicken/MS Money proprietary format/data lockdown racket.

GnuCash doesn't hide its methods. If you wonder how GnuCash computed a number, you can find it out. In addition, you can set preferences that tell GnuCash how much information to display to you. There is no "secret code" used in GnuCash - it continues to be an open-source program.

Yup. GnuCash is a free download for Windows or Linux. (Mac users, you can install the current stable release of GnuCash using Fink.) Thanks, Martin!—Gina Trapani